As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Anesthesiologist in California is $489,000 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $235.
However, an Anesthesiologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Anesthesiologist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $539,100 | $44,925 | $10,367 | $259 |
| Average | $489,000 | $40,750 | $9,404 | $235 |
| 25th Percentile | $459,600 | $38,300 | $8,838 | $221 |
Anesthesia Works - Hemet, CA
Anesthesia Works - Temecula, CA
Anesthesia Works - Lake Elsinore, CA
Anesthesia Works - Fallbrook, CA
An Anesthesiologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Anesthesiologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Anesthesiologist | $477,136 |
| Intermediate Level Anesthesiologist | $479,326 |
| Senior Level Anesthesiologist | $481,515 |
| Specialist Level Anesthesiologist | $484,581 |
| Expert Level Anesthesiologist | $492,705 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Anesthesiologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Anesthesiologist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $550,066. While startup companies pay approximate $467,070.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $467,070 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $493,477 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $531,687 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $550,066 |
For Anesthesiologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Anesthesiologist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Anesthesiologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | $733,500 | $353.0 | 50% |
| Biotechnology | $586,800 | $282.0 | 20% |
Understanding how an Anesthesiologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $539,100 | $44,925 | $10,367 | $259 |
| Average | $489,000 | $40,750 | $9,404 | $235 |
| 25th Percentile | $459,600 | $38,300 | $8,838 | $221 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Anesthesiologist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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